I answer your four questions about the consequences of defaulting on a credit card debt below.
1. Charge-Off
As with most consumer debts, failing to make payments on your credit card accounts in a timely manner will likely result in the lenders reporting late payments to the major U.S. consumer credit reporting agencies — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. After receiving no payment for 6-8 months, the creditors will be required to “charge off” the debts, meaning that they must remove the debt from their “accounts receivable” books; a charge-off does not mean that you are not liable for the debt, only that the creditor. Charge-offs will appear as derogatory items on your credit reports, and will likely cause a significant reduction in your credit score. To read more about credit, credit scoring, and credit reports, I encourage you to visit the Bills.com at Credit Information & Resources page.
Collections
While the credit problems associated with financial hardship are an issue for consumers who are planning to make a large purchase in the near future, the more immediate consequence experienced by most consumers are the collection activities undertaken by many creditors. First, you will likely receive collection calls and letters from the creditor directly. If you are still unable to pay the debt after several months, the creditor is likely to refer the account to a third-party collection agency. Third-party collectors are known to be much more aggressive in their collection tactics than original creditors, so do not be surprised if the calls become more persistent, or even threatening. Thankfully, federal law, the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, requires third-party debt collectors to stop calling you if you send a written demand to cease communication. You can find an example cease communication demand letter at the Bills.com Debt Do-it-yourself page.
Judgments
In some cases, when all other collection efforts fail, a creditor will decide to file a lawsuit against a consumer for his or her unpaid credit card account. In my experience, only a small percentage of delinquent accounts end up in litigation, but it is a possibility about which you should be aware. If one of your creditors sues you, the court will likely issue a judgment in the creditor’s favor. Depending on your state’s laws regarding the enforcement of judgments, the creditor may be able to garnish your wages, levy your bank accounts, or take other action to enforce its judgment. Most consumer debts do not result in litigation, so you should not be overly concerned, but if a creditor does file a lawsuit against you, you may need to consider establishing a repayment plan, or even filing for bankruptcy protection, to prevent further enforcement action.
2. Rebuilding Credit
If you decide to file for bankruptcy protection, the case will appear on your credit reports for ten years from the date of filing, and will likely cause significant damage to your credit rating, especially for the first few years after filing. As time passes, credit scoring models and most lenders give less weight to older derogatory items in favor of newer positive trade lines when reviewing a consumer’s credit history. You will need to establish some new credit lines so you can establish positive payment history to counterbalance the negative impact of your bankruptcy filing. Establishing a positive payment history can be difficult for people who have had past credit problems, especially those who have been forced to file for bankruptcy protection.
There are several options available that you may want to consider. First, if you know someone with an established credit history who will co-sign a loan with you, you may be able to obtain a loan and start building his own credit. If you cannot find someone to co-sign an unsecured loan with you, there is always the option of taking out a secured credit card. Secured credit cards require you to deposit cash in an account with the credit card bank. The credit line available on the card is equal to the amount of cash you have on deposit. This may sound strange; why would you not just spend your own cash? However, these secured credit cards report timely payments to the credit bureaus and may help you establish a credit history. To read more about bankruptcy, and the alternatives available to consumers, I encourage you to visit the Bills.com debt help page.
3. Credit Score Impact
In terms of your credit score, it would probably be better to have a single large account which you are unable to repay rather than having multiple delinquent accounts. Although the large account would be more heavily weighted, a single delinquent account is preferable to numerous small delinquencies. As for debt consolidation, debt management, or debt settlement, generally the opposite would be true — the more accounts you have, the more flexibility the debt servicing company would have in negotiating with your creditors. If you have only one account, if the creditor is unwilling to negotiate, the whole plan is bust; however, if you have multiple creditors, one or two creditors’ refusal to cooperate will not defeat the plan as a whole.
4. Bankruptcy
Both types of bankruptcy (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13), as well as foreclosure actions, are viewed as serious derogatory items on consumer credit histories. I cannot say that one is “worse” than the other, as each has its own serious consequences. However, I can tell you that a foreclosure action is often more costly for consumers; in addition, many consumers find that they must file for bankruptcy after foreclosure to prevent further collection action by their mortgage lender.
If you face foreclosure and/or considering filing for bankruptcy protection, I strongly encourage you to consult with an attorney in your area to discuss your financial difficulties. Your attorney will review the details of your situation and help you decide what actions are appropriate for you and your family.
I wish you the best of luck in resolving the financial problems you are facing.
I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.
Best,
Bill
Pineville, NC | April 17, 2012
April 17, 2012
- Collections Advice explains the collections process and options for resolving your debt.
- North Carolina Collection Laws explains your rights and liabilities as a North Carolina resident.
One last thought: Try the Bills.com Debt Coach, which is a no-cost, no-obligation, no-nonsense analysis of your debts. After you enter your debts into the tool, Debt Coach calculates the costs and benefits of each debt resolution strategy available to you.
Issaquah, WA | April 16, 2012
April 16, 2012
See the Bills.com resource Collections Advice to learn more about your rights and liabilities.
B/o Medford Lakes, NJ | March 21, 2012
March 21, 2012
Judgments appear on a credit report for 7½ years from the date the judgment was entered, or the length of the judgment, whichever is longer. The date the judgment was paid is irrelevant for the purposes of determining how long the judgment appears on a credit report. In other words, your paying the judgment will not reset the clock.
Burbank, CA | March 20, 2012
March 20, 2012
Zionville, NC | March 21, 2012
Tumwater, WA | February 24, 2012
February 26, 2012
Sunnyvale, CA | January 01, 2012
January 02, 2012
Debt settlement could be a viable alternative, but only if you can afford the monthly payment that the program requires. Bankruptcy may be the best alternative, especially if, in addition to the 80K in unsecured debt, you are left with a deficiency balance on the mortgage, post-short sale.
I recommend that you read the Bills.com article about debt relief and get a no-cost, no obligation analysis of your debt options from a pre-screened debt relief provider. Speak with a bankruptcy attorney, as well.
Hardy, KY | December 15, 2011
December 16, 2011
Moorpark, CA | November 25, 2011
November 27, 2011
Before you decide on bankruptcy learn about options for debt relief. Start by reading Bills.com's valuable information about debt relief.
Mancheter, NH | November 16, 2011
November 16, 2011
October 19, 2011
October 19, 2011
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